"I didn't mean any disrespect to MSU or Coach D with the impersonation. It was all for fun. I have mad respect for Coach D I love the guy." - Warren De La Salle quarterback and class of 2013 Michigan Wolverines commit Shane Morris, via Twitter

Hopefully this will end the violence between Michigan State and Michigan fans.

Hopefully, the explanation from this 17-year-old – that he was merely having some fun as part of a goofy ESPN bit that asked future college players to impersonate a coach with whome they're familiar – will suffice in ending the bloodshed.

But there's probably little that can inject any form of reason into the Spartans-Wolverines rivalry.

And for those who can't witness his transgression firsthand by watching the video below, I've taken the liberty of transcribing.

"Coach Dantonio. He's pretty easy," Morris said with a huge smile. "He doesn't talk much so he just..."

Morris looked down and took a deep breath before looking back up and deepening his voice to a slightly audible bass.

"'Hey, Shane, how's it going,'" he mocked with clear contempt. "Hey, we got this longsnapper over here. Uh, he thinks he's going to come to Michigan State, but, uh, y'know, it's actually a pretty important position. So we might give him a scholarship."

At least if you're listening to some MSU fans, Morris is just another smarmy, snot-nosed, arrogant, entitled, overhyped Michigan recruit.

Either that, or he's a harmless high schooler making it through the summer between his junior and senior year before he's off to play major college football, because of which he gets interviewed by the four-letter network.

If you believe the former explanation, perhaps the four-game winning streak and back-to-back 11-win seasons hasn't done quite enough to neutralize that legendary Spartans inferiority complex.

But what are you looking at, "MICHIGAN MAN"? Does "MICHIGAN MAN" think it's funny when old Spartan habits refuse to die?

"Ha-HA! He made Dantonio look like a fool! I bet Dantonio feels SO stupid. Brady Hoke's 21-star recruits can make him look like the idiot, little brother coach he is! I can't WAIT till Shane gets to Michigan cuz we're gonna win four national championships in a roooooow!

It takes a mighty Wolverine to lean on the words of a 17-year-old to do their fighting for them.

Then again, that might be smart. After all, the guys who are actually on the team haven't managed to do much to belittle Dantonio, who owns a 4-1 record against them.

This rivalry is hot right now. After six straight wins by Michigan, including some nailbiters – Michigan State has taken the last four.

Whether or not it was because of the Rich Rodriguez era is irrelevant. It's been decades since the Wolverines have been dominated so thoroughly by their in-state rival.

The Spartans – unlike in other seasons when they've won in this series – have proven their aspirations extend beyond beating the Wolverines, which is an indirect smack in the face.

After three years of misery, Michigan returned to what Wolverines fans feel is their rightful place – at minimum – in the college football world: an 11-2 record and a BCS win.

But, in your best season in years, you still lost to little brother, didn't you?

Michigan State barely lost the inaugural Big Ten championship game and finally got off the schneid and won a bowl game – against Georgia, an SEC team, no less!

But, despite the best run of football the school has seen in decades, you still were slighted for a more prestigious bowl, weren't you?

Let's take a step back and look at the words in Morris' clarification again: "I didn't mean any disrespect to MSU or Coach D with the impersonation. It was all for fun. I have mad respect for Coach D I love the guy."

Note, he didn't apologize. I'm guessing because he didn't think he needed to. And I'm really going out on a limb here, but I'm betting that's because he – as he made so clear – didn't have any bad intention in the first place.

He loves Coach D. And when he gets to Ann Arbor, he's going to try his hardest to beat Dantonio and his Spartans each and every year.

So Morris has a sense of humor, seems level-headed – is competitive, yet respectful of his competition?

I guess, regardless of your colors, we should all learn from this 17-year-old and stop taking ourselves so seriously.